Notification on the amendments of the requirements for accreditation in the field of pressure equipment

In accordance with the Rules of Accreditation, we inform all stakeholders and accredited conformity assessment bodies (CABs) that there has been an amendment in the accreditation requirements in the field of conformity assessment of pressure equipment. 

Pursuant to Article 5 of the Law on technical requirements for products and conformity assessment (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 49/21), the minister of Mining and Energy passed the following:

1. Rulebook on pressure equipment,
2. Rulebook on simple pressure vessels,
3. Rulebook on inspections of pressure equipment during the lifetime and
4. Rulebook on the criteria regarding the number and professional qualifications of employees that shall be met by users and designated bodies in the field of pressure equipment. 

The Rulebooks were published in the Official Gazette of the RS No. 114 from November 30th, 2021.

The Rulebooks shall apply from 1st January, 2023, except for the Rulebook on simple pressure vessels, which shall apply from 1st July, 2023.

On the day of application of the newly adopted Rulebooks, the Rulebook on technical requirements for design, manufacture and conformity assessment of pressure equipment (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 87/11), Rulebook on technical requirements for design, construction and conformity assessment of simple vessels under pressure (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 87/11) and the Rulebook on inspections of pressure equipment during the lifetime (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 87/11, 75/13 and 44/18 – other law), in establishing the conformity assessment procedures for which the Accreditation Body of Serbia (ATS) has accredited CABs.
Pursuant to the Law on Accreditation (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 73/2010 and 47/2021), the Ministry of Mining and Energy (MRE) and the Accreditation Body of Serbia (ATS) have concluded a Protocol on cooperation in order to develop appropriate accreditation schemes for assessing and determining the competence of the CABs for the purpose of notification of the CABs. 
In accordance with the Protocol on cooperation, according to the established procedure, it was agreed between MRE and ATS that the conformity assessment of pressure equipment in accordance with the Rulebook on Pressure Equipment (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 114/21) and the Rulebook on simple pressure vessels (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 114/21), for all prescribed modules, notify CABs accredited by ATS as certification bodies for product certification according to the standard SRPS EN ISO/IEC 17065 which is, as defined in the mandatory document EA-2/17 (EA Document on Accreditation for notification purposes) and the rules and the procedures of ATS, the basic recommended standard for accreditation for notification purposes of the CABs.

For inspection and testing activities from the Rulebook on inspections of pressure equipment during the lifetime (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 114/21), as already prescribed by the Rulebook, can be notified CABs which are accredited by ATS as type A inspection bodies according to the standard SRPS ISO/IEC 17020. In the process of assessing the CABs for accreditation for inspection and testing of pressure equipment during the lifetime, ATS shall assesse compliance with requirements of staff set out in the Rulebook on criteria for the number of professional qualification of employees to meet beneficiaries and notified bodies in the field of pressure equipment.

In addition, it was agreed that in accordance with the requirements of the Rulebook on inspections and pressure equipment during lifetime (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 114/21), testing and adjustment of safety devices – safety valves, on pressure equipment apply the provisions of the Rulebook, may be performed by accredited testing laboratories for the testing procedure given in Annex VI of the Rulebook on inspections of pressure equipment during the lifetime (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 114/21).

Based on the above, ATS shall inform stakeholders of the following: 
Accredited certification bodies for product certification, which within the scope of accreditation have conformity assessment activates from the Rulebook on Technical Requirements for Design, Development and Conformity Assessment of Pressure Equipment (‘’Official Gazette of the RS”, No. 87/11), which intend to be accredited for conformity assessment activities for pressure equipment, in accordance with the Rulebook on Pressure Equipment (‘’Official Gazette of the RS“, No. 114/21), shall be harmonized with the amended requirements by January 1st, 2023 at the latest. Compliance with the amended requirements shall be confirmed by accreditation in the procedure of extending the scope of accreditation, through the procedure of extending the scope of accreditation during the surveillance assessment or through an independent procedure of extending the scope of accreditation.  From January 1st, 2023, the scope of accreditation of accredited certification bodies for product certification shall no longer be able to include conformity assessment activities from the Rulebook on technical requirements for design, manufacture and conformity assessment of pressure equipment (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 87/11), i.e. the scope of accreditation for the above activities shall be reduced due to the termination of the technical regulation. Accredited certification bodies for product certification shall timely submit an application for extension of the scope of accreditation, so that accreditation procedure can be completed within a period that shall allow them to submit applications for notification no later than the end of the transitional period referred to in Article 27, paragraph 2 of the Rulebook on pressure equipment (‘’Official Gazette of the RS“, No. 114/21).

Accredited certification bodies for product certification, which within the scope of accreditation have conformity assessment activities from the Rulebook on Technical Requirements for design, construction and conformity assessment of simple pressure vessels (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 67/11), which intend to be accredited for conformity assessment of pressure equipment, in accordance with the Rulebook on simple pressure vessels (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 114/21), should be harmonized with the amended requirements no later than July 1st, 2023. Compliance with the amended requirements shall be confirmed by accreditation in the procedure of extending the scope of accreditation, through the procedure of extending the scope of accreditation during the surveillance assessment or through an independent procedure of extending the scope of accreditation. From July 1st 2023, the scope of accreditation of accredited certification bodies for product certification shall no longer be able to include conformity assessment activities from the Rulebook on Technical Requirements for design, construction and conformity assessment of simple pressure (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 87/11), i.e. the scope of accreditation for the above activities shall be reduced due to the termination of the technical regulation. Accredited certification bodies for product certification must timely submit an application for extension of accreditation, so that the accreditation procedure can be completed within a period that will allow them to submit applications for notification no later than the end of the transitional period referred to in Article 23, paragraph 2 of the Rulebook on simple vessels under pressure (‘’Official Gazette of the RS“, No. 114/21).

CABs that intend to be accredited as certification bodies for product certification according to SRPS EN ISO/IEC 17065, for conformity assessment of pressure equipment, in accordance with the Rulebook on pressure equipment (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 114/21) and/or in accordance with the Rulebook on simple pressure vessels (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 114/21), may submit an application for accreditation starting from May 3rd, 2022.

Accredited inspection bodies, which within the scope of accreditation have conformity assessment activities from the Rulebook on technical requirements for design, development and conformity assessment of pressure equipment (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 87/11), may maintain accreditation of these activities, concluding with December 31st, 2022, after which the scope of accreditation for these activities shall be reduced, due to the expiration of the technical regulation.

Accredited inspection bodies, which within the scope of accreditation have conformity assessment activities from the Rulebook on technical requirements for design, construction and conformity assessment of simple pressure vessels (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 87/11), may maintain accreditation for these activities, concluding with June 30th, 2023, after which the scope of accreditation for these activities shall be reduced, due to the termination of the technical regulation.

Accredited inspection bodies, which within the scope of accreditation have control, i.e. inspection and testing activities from the Rulebook on inspections of pressure equipment during lifetime (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 87/11, 75/13 and 44/18 – other law), which intended to be accredited for inspection and testing activities from the Rulebook on inspections of pressure equipment during lifetime (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 114/21), should comply with the amended requirements no later than January 1st, 2023. Compliance with the amended requirements shall be confirmed by accreditation in the process of extending the scope of accreditation, through the process of extending the scope of accreditation during the surveillance assessment and/or reassessment or through an independent procedure of extending the scope of accreditation. From 1st January, 2023, the scope of accreditation of accredited inspection bodies shall no longer be able to include control, i.e. inspection and testing activities from the Rulebook on inspections of pressure equipment during the lifetime (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 87/11, 75/13 and 44/18 – other law), so the scope of accreditation shall be reduced for the above tasks due to the termination of the technical regulation, or granted accreditation shall be withdrawn if the scope of accreditation contains only those tasks of conformity assessment. 

The CABs that intend to be accredited as type A inspection bodies according to SRPS ISO/IEC 17020, for inspection and testing activities from the Rulebook on inspections of pressure equipment during the lifetime (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 114/21), may submit an application for accreditation starting from May 3rd, 2022, with the provision that the accreditation or assessment procedure cannot begin until the CABs submits adequate information, i.e. evidence of compliance with the requirements of Annex II, point 4 of the Rulebook on inspections of pressure equipment during lifetime.

As of May 3rd, 2022, ATS shall no longer receive new applications for accreditation or renewal of accreditation, for conformity assessment activities from the regulations that cease to be valid as stated in this information.

Accredited testing laboratories that, within the scope of accreditation, have tests of safety devices for protection against excessive pressure – safety valves, if they intend to be accredited for testing safety devices – safety valves, on pressure equipment to which the provisions of the Rulebook on reviewing equipment under pressure during the period of use (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 114/21) should comply with the amended requirements by January 1st, 2023. Compliance with the amended requirements shall be confirmed by accreditation in the accreditation extension procedure, through the accreditation extension procedure for testing prescribed in Annex VI of the Rulebook of the Rulebook on pressure equipment inspections during the service life, during surveillance and/or reassessment or through independent accreditation extension procedure. 

Testing laboratories that intend to be accredited for testing safety devices – safety valves, on pressure equipment to which the provisions of the Rulebook on inspections of pressure equipment during lifetime (‘’Official Gazette of the RS’’, No. 114/21), for testing prescribed in Annex VI of that Rulebook, may submit an application for accreditation starting from May 3rd, 2022.
 
Sincerely,
Yours ATS